The Green Mile (movie) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Green Mile |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Frank Darabont |
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| Screenplay by | Frank Darabont |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Thomas Newman |
| Cinematography | David Tattersall |
| Editing by | Richard Francis-Bruce |
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| Release date(s) | December 10, 1999 (United States) |
| Running time | 189 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $60 million |
| Money made | $286.8 million |
The Green Mile is a 1999 American drama movie. It was released on December 10, 1999 in the United States. It stars Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, and Michael Clarke Duncan. It was directed by Frank Darabont.
Contents
Plot summary
In Louisiana in 1935, inmates at the Cold Mountain Correctional Facility call Death Row "The Green Mile" because of the dark green linoleum that tiles the floor. Paul Edgecomb (played by Tom Hanks) is the head guard on the Green Mile when a new inmate arrives: John Coffey (played by Michael Clarke Duncan), who is to be executed for murder. Despite his size and the fearsome crimes for which he's serving time, Coffey seems to be a kind and well-mannered person who behaves more like an innocent child than a hardened criminal. Soon Edgecomb and two of his fellow guards, Howell (played by David Morse) and Stanton (played by Barry Pepper), notice something odd about Coffey: he's able to perform what seem to be miracles of healing, like bringing a dead mouse back to life, leading them to wonder just what sort of person he could be, and if he could have done the crimes with which he was charged.
Etymology
The word "Green mile" is said to metaphorically represent the short distance of land (therefore the use of the word "mile") that a prisoner need to walk or otherwise run before he or she are executed on prison grounds.
Cast
- Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb
- David Morse as Brutus "Brutal" Howell
- Bonnie Hunt as Jan Edgecomb
- Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey
- James Cromwell as Warden Hal Moores
- Michael Jeter as Eduard Delacroix
- Graham Greene as Arlen Bitterbuck
- Doug Hutchison as Percy Wetmore
- Sam Rockwell as "Wild Bill" Wharton
- Barry Pepper as Dean Stanton
- Jeffrey DeMunn as Harry Terwillinger
- Patricia Clarkson as Melinda Moores
- Harry Dean Stanton as Toot-Toot
- Dabbs Greer as old Paul Edgecomb
- Eve Brent as Elaine Connelly
- William Sadler as Klaus Detterick
- Paula Malcomson as Marjorie Detterick
- Brent Briscoe as Bill Dodge
- Gary Sinise as Burt Hammersmith
- Bill McKinney as Jack Van Hay
Production
Development
Darabont adapted Stephen King's novel, The Green Mile, into a screenplay in under eight weeks.
The film was shot at Warner Hollywood Studios, West Hollywood, California, and on location in Shelbyville, Tennessee, Blowing Rock, North Carolina and the old Tennessee State Prison. The interior sets were custom built by production designer Terence Marsh.
Casting
Hanks and Darabont met at an Academy Award luncheon in 1994. Stephen King stated he envisioned Hanks in the role and was happy when Darabont mentioned his name. Hanks was originally supposed to play elderly Paul Edgecomb as well, but the makeup tests did not make him look credible enough to be an elderly man. Because of this Greer was hired to play the older Edgecomb, his final film role. John Travolta was offered the role of Paul Edgecomb but turned it down.
Duncan credited his casting to Bruce Willis, with whom he had worked on the film Armageddon one year earlier. According to Duncan, Willis introduced him to Darabont after hearing of the open call for John Coffey. Basketball player Shaquille O'Neal was offered the role of John Coffey but turned it down. Josh Brolin was considered for the role of William "Wild Bill" Wharton.
Morse had not heard about the script until he was offered the role. He stated he was in tears by the end of it. Darabont wanted Cromwell from the start, and after he read the script, Cromwell was moved and agreed.
Soundtrack
The official film soundtrack, Music from the Motion Picture The Green Mile, was released on December 19, 1999, by Warner Bros. It contains 37 tracks, primarily instrumental tracks from the film score by Thomas Newman. It also contains four vocal tracks: "Cheek to Cheek" by Fred Astaire, "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby" by Billie Holiday, "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?" by Gene Austin, and "Charmaine" by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians.
Release
Box office
In the United States and Canada, The Green Mile opened on December 10, 1999, in 2,875 theaters and grossed $18 million in its opening weekend, placing second at the box office, just behind Toy Story 2 with $18.2 million, however, it finished first for the week with $23.9 million compared to Toy Story 2's $22.1 million for the week. It remained at number two in its second weekend and in the top 10 for 10 weeks but never reached number one for the weekend. It went on to gross $136.8 million in the U.S. and Canada and $150 million in other territories, bringing a worldwide total of $286.8 million, against its production budget of $60 million. It was the second highest-grosser in Japan for the year with a gross of $55.3 million.
Awards
1999 Academy Awards
- Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — Michael Clarke Duncan
- Nominated - Best Picture — David Valdes, Frank Darabont
- Nominated - Best Sound Mixing — Robert J. Litt, Elliot Tyson, Michael Herbick, Willie D. Burton
- Nominated - Best Adapted Screenplay — Frank Darabont
2000 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
- Won - Best Supporting Actor — Michael Clarke Duncan
- Won - Best Supporting Actress — Patricia Clarkson
- Won - Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film
- Nominated - Best Director — Frank Darabont
- Nominated - Best Music — Thomas Newman
2000 Broadcast Music Incorporated Film & TV Awards
- Won - Film Music Award — Thomas Newman
2000 Black Reel Awards
- Won - Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor — Michael Clarke Duncan
2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
- Won - Favorite Actor - Drama — Tom Hanks
- Nominated - Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama — Michael Clarke Duncan
- Nominated - Favorite Supporting Actress - Drama — Bonnie Hunt
2000 Bram Stoker Awards
- Nominated - Best Screenplay — Frank Darabont
2000 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
- Won - Best Screenplay, Adaptation — Frank Darabont
- Won - Best Supporting Actor — Michael Clarke Duncan
- Nominated - Best Film
2000 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
- Nominated - Best Supporting Actor — Michael Clarke Duncan
- Nominated - Most Promising Actor — Michael Clarke Duncan
2000 Directors Guild of America
- Nominated - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures — Frank Darabont
2000 Golden Globe Awards
- Nominated - Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture — Michael Clarke Duncan
2000 NAACP Image Awards
- Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture — Michael Clarke Duncan
2000 MTV Movie Awards
- Nominated - Best Breakthrough Male Performance — Michael Clarke Duncan
2000 Motion Picture Sound Editors (Golden Reel Awards)
- Nominated - Best Sound Editing - Dialogue and ADR — Mark A. Mangini, Julia Evershade
- Nominated - Best Sound Editing - Effects and Foley — Mark A. Mangini, Aaron Glascock, Howell Gibbens, David E. Stone, Solange S. Schwalbe
- Won - Favorite All-Around Motion Picture
- Won - Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture
2001 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (Nebula Award)
- Nominated - Best Script — Frank Darabont
2000 Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Nominated - Outstanding Performance by a Cast
- Nominated - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role — Michael Clarke Duncan
See also
In Spanish: The Green Mile para niños
